DETROIT – Over the last three games, the Wings have gotten some stellar play out of their two goalies, but Jimmy Howard may have turned in the gem of this young season Sunday at Joe Louis Arena.

Howard stopped 45 shots to help lead Detroit past the Los Angeles Kings.

“When it comes to goaltending it’s two different games within a game,” Howard said. “Some nights you’re getting a lot of work and other nights you’re not. You just have to find ways to make saves for your guys and I was able to do that tonight.”

Twenty three of his saves came in the second period.

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“They did a good job of getting on top of us and turning pucks over,” Howard said. “They just kept coming and throwing pucks at the net. We did a great job of limiting their opportunities. Pretty much they were one and done. Against a big strong team like that it’s important to keep them to the outside.”

The 45 saves is the most he’s made since making 47 against the New York Rangers on Feb. 7, 2011. His career high is 52, which he made against the Kings on Jan. 7, 2010.

“Without Jimmy we wouldn’t have a chance today,” said Jonathan Ericsson, who scored the winning goal with 4.5 seconds left in regulation. “He made some really good saves. He really kept us in the game the first two periods. We owe Jimmy this win.

“This is a will win but a lot of thanks to Howie, of course,” Ericsson continued. “I think we weren’t battling as hard as we did the previous two games. But any two points is so important in this short season.”

The Wings have now allowed just four goals against in the last three games.

Petr Mrazek began things on Thursday, allowing one goal against the St. Louis Blues. Howard followed that by letting one in Saturday against Edmonton.

“Our tenders have been phenomenal these last three games,” Ericsson said. “We have a lot to thank them for.”

“We were tired, no doubt,” Daniel Cleary said. “Howie won us the game.”

Howard credits his freshness to taking Wednesday off and sitting Thursday.

The Wings have placed backup goalie Joey MacDonald on waivers. He has until noon Monday to clear waivers and then the Wings will assign him to Grand Rapids.

“He hasn’t played in a year,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “He wants to play in the NHL. He’s got to play some games.”

MacDonald hasn’t played in a game since March 14 when his back flared up in a 4-0 loss in Anaheim. It was learned later that he had a slightly bulging disc.

He did not require surgery. He did have back surgery in 2006.

Normally, the Wings would have sent a player down that’s missed so much do for conditioning, but the roster is already at the 23-player limit.

“We’re not carrying three goalies for three roster spots,” Holland said. “Can’t put him in the NHL, he hasn’t played hockey in a year. He needs to play.”

Last season, MacDonald won seven games in a row as the starter and finished 8-5-1 with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

MacDonald is in the final year of a one-way contract at $550,000, which means he’ll get paid the same amount of money if he’s in the NHL or minors.

For his career, MacDonald is 31-48-13, with a 3.04 GAA and .903 save percentage.

Second in scoring

With his two assists Sunday, Henrik Zetterberg moved into second in points in the league with 20.

“I don’t think it’s something I thought I had to do,” Zetterberg said. “I just go in and play and the puck’s been bouncing my way. And (Damien Brunner) and (Johan Franzen) have done a good job and of course the power play has been better the last couple of games. That helps. So you just got to keep going. I know it won’t last forever. You will have slumps when you’re not scoring and getting points. You better be happy when they’re coming.”

Quote of the day

Ericsson got a thank you from someone he didn’t expect after scoring the game-winning goal with 4.5 seconds left in regulation.

“The funniest thing actually is that one of the linesmen was thanking me after I scored,” Ericsson said. “He said, ‘Thank you so much. I really had to go pee. I wouldn’t last overtime.’ That was kind of funny.”

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